Unleashing the Power of Faith in the Workplace
Do you dread Mondays? You’re not alone. For many of us, our jobs can be exhausting, challenging, and all-consuming. But what if we could transform our work environments – whether they’re fast-paced or mundane – into opportunities to honor God and love our neighbors?
A Divine Calling
Tim Keller, a renowned pastor and author, spent his life ministering to believers struggling to integrate their faith with their work. He discovered that our work reveals our deepest values and treasures. According to Keller, work is not just a means to earn a living or advance our careers; it’s a divine calling to serve our heavenly Master and make a tangible impact on those around us.
A Soap Opera Actor’s Dilemma
A soap opera actor, who had recently converted to Christianity, approached Keller with questions about his profession. “What roles should I take on, and how do I know which stories are good or bad?” he asked. Keller realized that he was unprepared to provide guidance on how to navigate the complexities of faith and work. This encounter sparked an “epiphany” that propelled Keller to explore the integration of faith and work more deeply.
Situating Your Vocation in a Larger Story
Your job will remain unclear unless you place it within a broader narrative. Instead of asking, “What’s the purpose of my job?” we should ask, “What’s the purpose of my life?” and “What’s the purpose of the universe?” Only by understanding God’s ultimate plan for the world, as revealed in Scripture, can we grasp the implications for our work.
The Bible’s Sweeping Story
The Bible unfolds a dramatic narrative that resonates powerfully with our jobs. From creation to fall, redemption, and restoration, the story presents an unfolding drama that shapes our understanding of work. The Bible begins with the most productive workweek of all time, where God creates and rests. The narrative then rewinds to focus on the sixth day, where God forms Adam and commissions him to work the garden of Eden.
Work as Commissioned by God
Keller aptly notes, “We see God not only working but commissioning workers to carry on his work.” Though creation was good, it was still undeveloped, and God left it with deep untapped potential for cultivation through human labor. Could the Bible begin with a more exalted view of work?
The Curse and the Promise
However, by the time we finish the next chapter in Genesis, the story becomes a tragedy. Following Adam and Eve’s rebellion, God pronounces a series of curses, including the curse on the ground, which makes work toil. Yet, even after banishment from Eden, Adam retains his vocation. The whole ensuing story of the Bible is about the promise of a royal deliverer who will end the exile and heal the world, bringing relief to our toil and everlasting rest to our souls.
The Meantime
As we await the renewal and restoration of all things, including the gift of work, we can find comfort in the words of Isaac Watts: “He comes to make his blessings flow / Far as the curse is found, / Far as, far as the curse is found.” On the topic of work, Keller often invoked Martin Luther, emphasizing the importance of faith in the workplace. By embracing our divine calling, we can transform our work environments into opportunities to honor God and love our neighbors, even in the midst of toil and struggle.
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